Slow Money Alliance National Leadership Formation

The Slow Money Alliance is a rapidly growing, self-organizing, decentralized network that links farmers, food entrepreneurs, donors, NGOs and investors. Since its inception in September 2009, the alliance has had more than 1,000 attendees from more than 30 states and six countries attend its two national gatherings, and 12,000 around the country who have signed the Slow Money principals. More than $2.5 million has been pledged from participants at their gatherings toward investment in local food initiatives. Slow Money Alliance finished 13th out of 2,500 entrants in the change.org Top Ten Ideas for Change competition.

Slow Money now wants to bring together 25 of the network’s local leaders to develop guidelines and structures for national management of its local chapters, form some initial ideas about what might constitute a regional group, develop common investment, messaging and communications strategies, come up with a knowledge sharing tool, and discuss localized branding opportunities. This will be the network’s first deliberate attempt to develop a national leadership system that will preserve the autonomy of its decentralized character but allow for an appropriate degree of national coordination and leadership.

Blackstone Ranch Institute has provided funding and strategic advice to this gathering.